Family size and children’s emotional adjustment: a comparative study of anxiety and aggression using the Family Drawing Test

This study aimed to investigate differences in anxiety and aggression among children from one-child, two-child, and multiple-child families using the Family Drawing Test. The research employed a causal-comparative design. Participants included 90 children aged 7 to 12 years (30 from each family type), who were purposefully selected from elementary schools in western Mazandaran and eastern Gilan provinces during the 2023-2024 academic year. The Family Drawing Test was administered, and data were analyzed using chi-square tests in SPSS-24. Findings revealed significant differences in anxiety and aggression levels across family types (p≤0.01). Children from one-child families displayed lower levels of anxiety and aggression compared to those from two-child and multiple-child families. However, no significant difference was observed between children from two-child and multiple-child families. The results suggest that family size and birth order can influence children’s emotional and behavioral development. The Family Drawing Test proved to be an effective tool for assessing inner emotional states such as anxiety and aggression in a non-threatening manner.